Air Fryer Vegetables
The air fryer is my favorite way to make light and healthy vegetables. They’re tender but perfectly charred!
The air fryer is currently my most used kitchen gadget. I just can’t get enough of it. I really appreciate how easy it is to cook everything in it with just a little bit of oil (I usually use an avocado oil spray) and some seasoning. The finished dish is always flavorful and the work is minimal.
These Air Fryer Vegetables are a tasty and healthy addition to any meal.
For this recipe you’ll need (full list of ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below):
- Zucchini
- Bell pepper
- Onion
- Sliced mushrooms
- Olive or avocado oil (or a cooking spray)
- Seasonings
Should you preheat your air fryer?
Absolutely preheat the air fryer whenever possible. Even just a few minutes can help! But know that if you forget it will still work out. You might just require a few extra minutes of cooking at the end.
Which air fryer do I recommend?
These days I have two air fryers that I use and love. Both are large enough to accommodate this recipe. (I don’t recommend using a compact air fryer to cook this amount of food unless you’re cooking in 2 batches.)
This GoWise 7 Quart Air Fryer is my favorite basket style option. It holds a lot of food and is reasonably priced for an air fryer of this size. Since your food cooks in a fairly deep basket you’ll want to be sure to stir or shake the ingredients about halfway through cooking.
This Cuisinart Air Fryer can also be used as a convection oven and toaster. It’s more expensive but I decided it was worth the investment once I learned how much I was using my air fryer. This beauty now sits on my counter full-time since I use it every day!
Can you roast these veggies in the oven instead?
Yes! Toss the vegetables in oil and seasonings. Spread all the ingredients in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir halfway through cooking time.
Tips for perfect air fryer vegetables
- Don’t overcrowd your veggies. For even cooking you want your vegetables spread in as close to an even layer as possible. If they’re all piled on top of each other then you’ll notice that the vegetables on top will cook much faster than those on the bottom. For this reason you want to be sure you’re using a large enough air fryer to accommodate everything.
- Don’t skip the oil. You don’t need much oil when using the air fryer but you do need some! A bit of olive or avocado oil works great. I usually just use an avocado oil spray.
- Stir or shake the vegetables halfway through your cooking time. Moving the veggies around like this helps them cook more evenly.
- Cook vegetables that are cut the same size. If you chop one vegetable smaller than the others it will cook faster and may burn so try to cut them close to the same size.
How to store
Store these vegetables in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze them if you prefer. Freeze in an airtight freezer safe container (like freezer bags). Then thaw and reheat in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Air Fryer Vegetables
Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchini, sliced into half-circles
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into 1-inch strips about the size of the zucchini half-circles
- 1 red onion, sliced into 1-inch strips about the size of the zucchini half-circles
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, I prefer sliced baby portabello mushrooms.
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil, You can also use a cooking spray.
- 1½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Add the zucchini, bell pepper, onion, and mushrooms to a large mixing bowl. Add olive or avocado oil (or generously spray with oil spray). Season with oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir so the vegetables are coated.
- Add the seasoned vegetables to the preheated air fryer. Cook for 10 minutes. Stir or shake. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, until vegetables are tender.Cooking time can vary based on the model air fryer used and the size of the air fryer. See notes for more information.
